Maureen (Ganly) Kelly, formerly of Wethersfield and Cumberland St., Hartford, passed away peacefully on October 14, 2016 at Alzheimer’s Resource Center in Plantsville, CT. She was the beloved wife of the late James J. Kelly with whom she shared 53 years of marriage. She was born on May 24, 1927 in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, Ireland to the late Michael and Elizabeth(Condon)Ganly, moving to Drumcondra, County Dublin as a young girl. Maureen was the daughter of a Master Tailor and attended dress design school in Dublin. In 1957 she travelled to the United States, sponsored by her Aunt Mary who resided in Avon and began working at the Institute of Living. Soon after, she met Jim at the Hartford Irish Club. Maureen kept close ties to her family in Ireland and enjoyed frequent trips home to connect with family and friends. She was a lifelong member of the Irish American Home Society.
Maureen was a devout Roman Catholic and longtime parishioner of St. Lawrence O’Toole Church, Hartford and Incarnation Church, Wethersfield. She was active in school PTA’s, the Hartford Democratic Woman’s Club and the Saint Lawrence O’Toole Rosary Alter Society. She demonstrated her love and caring of children through her commitment and involvement with the Intensive Education Academy where she was a former member of the Board of Directors. Maureen was a CCD teacher for many years. She will be fondly remembered for her gift of conversation, witty sayings and her homemade Irish bread that she shared with everyone.
She is survived by her three children: John and his wife Beth of Southport, Anne Zovas and her husband Peter of Cheshire, and Michael and his wife Renelyn of Waltham, MA. Maureen was the loving sister of Joe Ganly of Dublin and Eilish Barber of Toronto, and leaves behind two sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Russell of West Hartford and Mary Ganly of Dublin, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers Sean, Seamus, Michael and Noel and her sister Brenda.
She also leaves her seven cherished and devoted grandsons, Justin, Gregory and Evan Zovas,Christopher, Thomas and Andrew Kelly and Matthew Kelly, and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.
Maureen’s family would like to thank the entire staff at the Alzheimer’s Resource Center for the care and compassion given to her.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 21, 2016 at 10:00am at Incarnation Church, 544 Prospect St., Wethersfield. Burial will follow at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery, 1 Cottage Grove Rd., Bloomfield, CT. Family and friends may call on Thursday, October 20th from 4 to 7pm at Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Ave, West Hartford. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Intensive Education Academy, 840 N Main St., West Hartford, CT, a school Jim and Maureen valued and supported for more than 40 years.